Last night we finally got a good look at the 2026-27 Tar Heels led by new head coach, Michael Malone. Before we get started, though, let’s get this part out of the way: yes, this was a preseason game, and yes, a win or loss doesn’t go in the record books. But these games are becoming more and more valuable in the transfer portal era when there is massive turnover for any given team, which is exactly what the Heels dealt with after last season.
That said, Carolina did come away with an 88-70 victory
over USC, a team that has been ranked in ESPN’s preseason top 25. The Trojans were missing a few players due to injury, but it was still an impressive win regardless. Sloppy, but impressive. While it would be irrational to make any grand declarations from this game, there are a few takeaways from UNC’s performance worth discussing. Let’s dive in.
Jarin Stevenson and Isaiah Denis were surprisingly good
Following Hubert Davis’ firing, Michael Malone was able to retain the services of three notable Tar Heels — Jarin Stevenson, Isaiah Denis, and Jaydon Young. A lot of the players that were talked about during the offseason were everybody but the three that I just mentioned, but Stevenson and Denis easily looked like two of the best players on the team last night.
Stevenson finished his night with a team-high 25 points, 10 rebounds, an assist, and a block. He was all over the floor on the offensive side of the ball, draining four of his seven three-point attempts, and finishing 8-14 overall. This may be the most lively I’ve ever seen Stevenson, and at least part of that has to do with how much Malone utilizes movement in his scheme to get guys open. It seems like this is a really good fit for the senior after what was an OK season last year.
Meanwhile, Denis shocked us all by scoring 14 points and shooting 50% from the field and three. He looked like he was in the weight room whenever he wasn’t in the gym this summer, and all of his work was on full display. It’s worth noting that we never really got a fair look at him last season because of his injury, and even when he was healthy Hubert Davis never really gave him a chance. But Denis definitely showed he has X-factor potential this season given his speed, strength, and willingness to attack the rim.
Terrence Brown and Matt Able’s disappointing night provided optimism anyway
The title of this sections really says it all, but let’s break it down anyway. Terrence Brown and Matt Able did not have good games last night to say the least. They combined for 2-8 from the field, had three assists, and six total turnovers. Able didn’t even make a field goal, but also only saw 19 minutes of action. When it comes to Brown, he was the better of the two, but it just seemed like he struggled getting into his bag on offense.
Despite the two starting guards struggling, the team was able to rally in the second half to pull ahead of USC and come away with the win. The fact that the Heels were able to do that without getting big contributions from Able or Brown says something about the versatility and depth of this squad. Brown and Able will be fine, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they both went off in the next preseason game. But it truly was a blessing in disguise that things didn’t go so hot for them in Greensboro.
I see the Michael Malone’s defensive vision
Michael Malone has preached the gospel of playing really good defense ever since he arrived in Chapel Hill. In the first half of last night’s game, however, it felt like defense was more of a suggestion against the Trojans. It tough figuring out if the plan at the beginning of the game was just bad or if there was an execution issue, but ultimately the Heels looked much better in the second half, only allowing the Trojans to shoot 26.5% from the field and forced 10 turnovers.
The standout on defense for UNC has to be Saiyon Keita, mostly because of his presence in the paint. He also provided help defense on a play that led to him getting a steal and a breakaway dunk on the other side of the floor. Since we have no idea whether or not we’ll see Cameron Fens this season, it’s good to know that Keita is showing promise on defense. It’s unclear how much of an impact he’ll have on offense on a regular basis, but truly the best thing he can do for Malone’s squad is stay active in the paint and use his size and athleticism to create plays. If everything looks more like the second half than the first half when the regular season begins, this group could surprise a lot of people.
Overall, this was a really good win that doesn’t count in the record books for a relatively brand new team with a brand new coach. What do you think about UNC’s performance last night? Let us know in the comments below.
